News Release Archive

EDUCATION/CULTURE--OP/ED ARTICLE-NEW EDUCATION ACT
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Following is an op/ed article on Nova Scotia's new Education
Act by Education and Culture Minister John MacEachern :
On Nov. 3, I introduced a progressive new Education Act,
focused on supporting students and teachers in the
classroom. While the purpose and principles of the bill have
been well-received, the wording has caused undue concern and
confusion.
I want to address these concerns so the purpose and
principles are clear to everyone. In fact, we have been
working very closely with the Nova Scotia School Boards
Association, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, the Canadian
Union of Public Employees, the Home Education Association
and other groups to address the concerns as they are
presented to us. Such dialogue helps me prepare amendments
for the Law Amendments Committee, and more importantly, will
clarify and strengthen the bill to benefit Nova Scotia
students.
Because that's what the bill is all about -- supporting
student success. The principles in the bill are all tied to
this central purpose.
One, the act builds on the strength of partnerships in our
schools. Students win when parents have the opportunity to
work with teachers, and all partners as a team, to support
learning. Of course, the province will remain responsible
for curriculum and the quality of education. But school
advisory councils mean more decisions directly affecting
students can be made right in our schools and communities,
instead of offices in Halifax.
But let me make clear, the councils will be advisory only.
Councils will not hire and fire teachers, nor will we have
charter schools. School advisory councils simply allow
everyone with an interest in education -- parents, teachers,
school boards, school support staff, community members and
the students themselves -- to work as a team in improving
education in our schools.
This must be true for all students, which brings me to the
second principle. The act is built on the principle of
equity. Provincial and regional standards will be in place
so that all students have access to a high quality of
education, whether they attend school in Donkin, or Digby or
Dartmouth. As well, Acadians and Francophones will be able
to make decisions about the direction and future of
French-language education across the province. And the act
would create our first Council on African-Canadian
Education.
Three, the act promotes safe, orderly schools. Teachers and
principals, in consultation with students and their parents,
would be given the authority they need to effectively manage
their classrooms and schools. For example, too often, we
read about people causing trouble in our schools, who don't
even attend that school. The act would give teachers and
principals the authority to take necessary action to remove
such individuals from the school grounds.
A penalty clause (Section 142) is also included to apply to
people with no business on school grounds. In fact, I will
be amending the language of this clause to make clear that
the clause would not apply to the roles and responsibilities
of teachers, principals school staff, parents or students.
Four, the act allows for more dollars to be redirected to
the classroom through school board amalgamation, and other
management and administrative decisions. And of course, the
bill is about accountability for results and for the use of
tax dollars. This isn't about a power grab, but about
clarifying accountabilities for the school, elected school
boards and the minister.
For example, school boards are accountable for maintaining
and operating their schools, but if a school has not been
well maintained, taxpayers turn to the province for a
solution. The minister must have accountabilities in place
to prevent this from happening.
And of course, this bill is built on the principle of
fairness for the people who work in education. That's why
current contracts, successor rights and the collective
bargaining process are protected. That's why the act
recognizes the professional role of teachers and principals
in our schools. And that's why, for the first time, the
important role of support staff in our schools is also
recognized.
I look forward to presenting amendments to the Law
Amendments Committee on Nov. 20 that reconfirm the
principles in the act and clarify the language. In
particular, I want to thank the groups and individuals who
have contacted or met with me over the past two weeks, and
in fact, the past two years. As a result, the bill will be
strengthened and improved, so we all can be assured our new
Education Act will support a better education and a better
future for young Nova Scotians.
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Contact: Donna MacDonald 902-424-2615
trp Nov. 16, 1995